Thousands watch East Haven boy’s music video

EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)– An 11-year-old East Haven boy is making a name for himself as the next singing and dancing sensation. With lots of talent and some celebrity friends, his newest music video already has thousands of hits. But an accident almost changed everything.

Peter Cestaro loves to entertain. Acting, dancing but his favorite thing to do is sing.

Peter with Drake

At 11-years-old, Cestaro has already released three songs, filmed a national commercial, and appeared on the popular show “Orange is the New Black.” From a young age, he appeared to be a natural.

“When I was at birthday party when I was 5-years-old, one of my favorite songs came up and it was called “Apple Bottom Jeans” I think, and I started singing it on the mic and I was like ‘that’s my favorite song’ and my mom turns around and was like is that Peter?” said Cestaro.

“I actually could recall that moment. It was a really proud moment in my life because I never expected him to jump up in front of a crowd and perform the way he did. He had the entire party stop what they were doing and form a circle around him,” said Julie.

But two years later, an accident nearly took it all away.

“So my brother was pulling a prank on me at a friend’s house and the door was locked. So I was like I’m going to go climb the fence. My jeans got caught, it was one of those pick fence, like triangle, and it got caught and I tried to fix it. And when it came loose I fell head first,” said Cestaro.

“My husband found him laying in the ground and we didn’t know he passed out. There was no blood, so we didn’t know what was going on, he was just acting funny. When we got in the car, I asked him if he bumped his head. I asked him to do the alphabet, to spell his name. He had everything correct but he was really tired,” said Julie.

By the time they got home, Peter still wasn’t acting right so they sought medical attention.

Peter after the accident

“By the time we got there, I guess I didn’t know that if you have head trauma, you can’t hold your own arms up and they were dropping. So they put us in an ambulance, sent us to Yale and he was having surgery a few hours later,” said Julie. “One of the worst days of my life.”

There’s a permanent reminder. A scar runs on the top of his head from ear to ear.

But that accident led Peter to try something else, that brings his career as an entertainer to the next level.

“No physical contact sports so I went to dancing,” said Cestaro.

“He was singing prior to that, but that’s what made me put him in dancing school because I still wanted him to be involved in social activities. And he does tap, break dance, all boy hip hop, a group hip hop, he’s in a lot, and he signs himself up for everything,” said Julie.

“I play drums at school. I’ve been taking drums for two years,” said Cestaro.

It’s not just drums. He plays piano too. Cestaro is like a one man band.

“I think piano will help my career,” said Cestaro.

Whatever he’s thinking seems to be working, with his latest music video “Mirror” already at 10,000 hits on YouTube. “I think I’ve gone along way with ‘Mirror,” said Cestaro.

Peter also had a mini concert to accompany the songs release at a local church carnival. “It was really cool doing a mini concert at the carnival. It was pretty fun,” said Cestaro.

At the end of the day, Peter is still just a kid. When asked what is favorite part of making the music video, Cestaro said, “at the end I just liked going on the rides.”

Peter and French Montana

Where will this musical ride take him? Who knows, it doesn’t hurt that his family is good friends with rapper French Montana, who passed along some wise advice.

“French’s advice to me was auntie I never took singing lessons and look where I am today. That was his, you either have it or you don’t, you’re that one special star or you’re not,” said Julie.

And it wasn’t just advice he gave Peter. “He got me a Bentley,” said Cestaro.

Bentleys, music videos, concerts, celebrity friends, how does this 11-year-old feel about it?